Sisters of Our Lady of Sion UK & Ireland Province

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The Charism of Sion The Family of Sion Sion in the UK and Ireland Events News Our History More about Sion Links		4th Sunday of Advent, year A Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 23 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24 I Eight hundred years before the birth of Jesus, Ahaz, King of Judah was in danger of attack from two neighbouring countries, Israel and Syria. God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell Ahaz that he would protect Judah from invasion if Ahaz put his trust in him. Ahaz refused to trust God but Isaiah promised him that a young woman would bear a child whose name "Emmanuel" means "God is with us". These words were meant to be an encouragement to Ahaz as the child was to herald an upturn in Judah's peace and prosperity. For Christians this promise takes on greater significance with the birth of Jesus who is indeed "God with us". Paul tells the Romans that Jesus who was descended from David is now, through his resurrection from the dead, proclaimed Son of God. Paul and the other apostles received the call to preach to the gentiles so that all who receive the call can belong to Jesus Christ. God speaks to us in many different ways. In the gospel he speaks to Joseph through a dream telling him not to be afraid to take the already pregnant Mary as his wife because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Matthew applies the Isaiah text about the maiden to Mary to show that the child will be a child of promise whose coming will usher in a new era. What are the signs that God is with us today? You might like to reflect on the past week and pick out some of the ways God has spoken to you. It might be through an incident or a meeting with someone. It might be through something inspiring you have read or something of beauty you have seen. God's presence depends on us too. We can be channels of "God with us" in our own lives. How might you bring the reality of "God is with us" to those whose lives you touch?
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Reflection on this Sunday's scripture readings